Issue Date: 3rd November 2023
Throughout the October Bank Holiday Weekend, an extensive Garda Roads Policing Operation was in place between 7am Thursday, 26th of October 2023 to 7am Wednesday, 1st of November 2023.
There were two fatalities on our roads during this period and nine serious collisions took place that resulted in nine people receiving serious and life-threatening injuries.
To date this year, 157 people have died on Irish roads. That is 34 more lives lost than this time last year.
Over the Bank Holiday period, An Garda Síochána carried out 949 Mandatory Intoxicant Testing (MIT) checkpoints. 5,852 roadside drug and alcohol tests were conducted which led to 211 arrests for driving under the influence of an intoxicant. 41 of these arrests occurred between the hours of 6am-2pm.
Throughout the weekend, Garda Roads Policing Units were out detecting those speeding and issued over 745 on the spot Fixed Charge Penalty Notices for speeding offences.
Of the 647,933 vehicles checked for speeding by Go-Safe nationwide, 1,973 drivers were detected for speeding.
Notable top speeds detected in each speed zone include:
• 130km/h in a 50km/h zone on the R463 Corbally Road, Limerick
• 128km/h in a 60km/h zone on the Stillorgan Road, Blackrock, Dublin
• 147km/h in a 80km/h zone on the R178 Redbog, Carrickmacross, Louth
• 166km/h in a 100km/h zone on the N26 Ballynahaglish, Ballina, Mayo
• 203km/h in a 120km/h zone on the M8 Ballinaglanna North, Kilworth, Cork
Fixed Charge Offences for other road offences during this period included:
• Using Mobile Phones – 288
• Unaccompanied Learner Drivers – 110
• No Seatbelts – 76
In addition:
• 81 vehicles were seized from learner permit holders driving unaccompanied
• 168 vehicles seized for being uninsured
• 176 vehicles were seized for having no tax
There was a 37% increase in serious injury road traffic collisions in comparison to the same weekend in 2022.
The number of motorists detected as driving under the influence of drugs also increased by over 55% when compared to the last October Bank Holiday Weekend.
Assistant Commissioner Hilman, Roads Policing and Community Engagement Garda National Roads Policing Bureau said, "Gardaí nationwide received good support from road users across the October Bank Holiday Weekend in helping us and our partners to keep our roads safe.
"Our thoughts are with all those who have suffered the loss of a loved one on our roads or who have sustained life changing injuries caused in a serious road traffic collision.
"We must continue to raise awareness among all road users about road safety, work together with road users and our partners, to prevent a further rise in road fatalities serious injury road traffic collisions."
An Garda Síochána continues to appeal to all road users to never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, to slow down and to always choose a speed that is appropriate to the driving conditions, to wear your seatbelt and never use a mobile phone while driving.
